Letter file



(No Model.)

J. F. LASH. LETTER EILE.

No. 421,409. Patented Feb} 18, 1890-.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

JOHN F. LASI-I, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO ZEBULUM AITONLASH, OF SAME PLACE.

LETTER==F| LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,409, dated February18, 1890.

I Application filed May 9, 1889- $erial No. 310,206. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN FANNON LASH, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at the city of Toronto, in the county of York, in theProvince of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Letter-Files, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that class of letter-files which consist ofone or more arches, each arch being so constructed as to be opened orseparated to admit of papers being strung on the file; and it consists,essentially, in constructing the parts which make upthe arch so thatthey may be folded down fiat upon the base or upon alevel withit inknockdown form for convenience and safety in packing for transportation;and it consists, also, in a simple and effective manner of joiningtogether the parts of each arch, so that papers may be transferred fromone part of the arch to the other, and that papers on the file will notfall off.

The improvements may be more easily understood by referring to thedrawings.

Figure 1 is aview of a file with two arches constructed with myimprovements, showing the file set up ready for use. Fig. 2 is a view ofthe same file with the parts which make up one of the arches folded downflat in knockdown form for convenience of packing.

I call the parts which make up each arch One of the parts I a pair offiling-wires. call a filing-wire and the other an arched transfer-wire.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, A represents a bed-plate towhich a pair of filing-wires is secured.

B represents the fili11g-wire,"a11d O represents the archedtransfer-wire. At D the ends of the filing-wire B are shown hollowed outand also with a slot cut in the hollowed ends, and the end of the archedtransfer-wire O is shown interlocked therein. The filingwire B is hingedor secured to the bed-plate, so that it may be rocked away from thearched transfer-wire C to receive papers, or it may be folded down flaton a level with the bedplate A, as shown in Fig. 2. The archedtransfer-wire O is represented as bent at a Y right angle at E andsecured to the bed-plate A within a socket, so that it also may befolded down fiat, as shown in Fig. 2; but the same object-via, that ofpacking the file in knockdown forn1can be attained by sliding it out ofthe socket, or by constructing its connection with the bed-plate in sucha manner as to be separable therefrom, ostensibly for the purpose oflaying it down flat in packing the file for transportation. Advantagesderived by thus folding down the projecting parts of arched files are agreat saving of space in storage, and in shipping quantities muchsmaller packing-boxes and less other necessary packing materials arerequired.

In order to hold an arched tranfer-wire up in position for use, it maybe slid into a slot cut in the socket, as at F. This will steady it andgive it at its point of juncture with its corresponding filing-wire aslight right or left tendency, which will assist in keeping itinterlocked within the slot D in the cavity in the filing-wire B by thenatural spring in the wire. The same result may be obtained if theconstruction above described be reversed by shaping the end of thearched transferwire C, as described, for the end of the filingwire B.This mode of joining and keeping the ends of the wires together producesa suitable joint, over which papers can be passed, and also preventspapers from falling oif.

Papers can be filed on either of the wires, and by manipulating thepapers on the arches any desired paper can be taken off or put onwithout taking off any others.

While I have described herein the preferred details of construction, itis to be understood that these details'may be modified, provided theparts of the arch are adapted to turn down in tiatform on the base orsupport.

I believe myself to be the first to construct a filingarch the two partsof which are hinged or jointed to permit their separation when lettersare to be applied or removed in such manner that when not in action bothparts may be turned down flatwise upon the base or support; and it is tobe understood that my invention embraces any construction the mechanicalequivalent of that herein shown which permits't-his folding action.

That I claim isr 1. In a letter-file, the combination of a suitorsupport and two filing-arches, each composed of an arched and a straightmember, the arched members hinged to fold downward and rearward inopposite directions and the straight members hinged to fold down in adifferent direction, substantially as and for c the purpose describedand shown.

4.. In a letter-file, the base, the filing-wire and an arched wireco-operating therewith, and a hinged connection, substantially as shown,sustaining the arched wire and allowing the same to fold down sidewisc,but resisting its motion in other directions, whereby the arch issustained when in active position, but allowed to fold out of the waywhen not in use.

5. In combination with the bed-plate or support, a filing-wire B,mounted thereon to fold to a flat position, and a separate archedtransfer-wire detachably secured to the support, substantially asdescribed and shown,

whereby the parts are adapted to be placed in fiat and compact form forstorage or transportation.

6. In a letter-file, and in combination with a suitable base or support,a filing-wire B, having its exposed end provided with the longitudinalcavity and the lateral slot or opening therefrom, and the co-operatingarched wire 0, having its end adapted to enter the slot and engage inthe cavity.

7. In a letter-file, and in combination with a base-plate or support,twoindependent filingwires 0, hinged to turn down in opposite directionswhen not in use, whereby they are adapted to be held in operativepositions in whole or in part by the letters or sheets through whichthey pass.

8. In a letter-file, the combination of the slotted socket G and thearched transfer-wire 0, having its base bent at a right angle and seatedto slide and turn in the socket.

9. In a letter-file, the combination, substantially as described andshown, of a bed or base plate, a notched socket thereon, and the arch edtransfer-wire having the angular lower end mounted to slide and turn inthe socket, substantially as described.

, JOHN F. LASI-I.

Witnesses:

A. MACKENZIE, ROBERT GOWANS.

